| As the days are growing longer and overtime on | | | | more immediate attention. Often not wanting to |
| outdoor job sites increase, there is no topic more | | | | be bothered by having to apply sunscreen |
| pertinent than sun safety. If you are exposed, or | | | | because of the time it takes or because they |
| have workers that are exposed it is essential that | | | | believe it to be the non-absorbent types of |
| you are educated about the impact the sun can | | | | yesteryear, they are unaware that there are now |
| have on you and the ways that the different | | | | fast absorbing sunscreen sprays and even |
| methods of protection, such as sunscreen | | | | sunscreen towelettes that make application |
| products, can make a difference. | | | | complete in just moments - even in areas like |
| As most people know, beyond the heat of the | | | | behind the ears, the backs of hands, the neck and |
| sun and having to deal with keeping cool in an | | | | other spots not being protected by appropriate |
| outdoor work situation, there is additional influence | | | | clothing or sun safety accessories such as sun |
| that the rays are having on your body. In the | | | | flaps attached to hardhats. |
| simplest of terms, frequent exposure to | | | | Basic rules of sunscreen use to follow are to be |
| damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays causes sun | | | | sure to use a wide spectrum sunscreen product |
| damage. UV is an invisible form of radiation | | | | that protects from UVA and UVB rays. It should |
| emitted by the sun. There are two types of UV | | | | be SPF 15 or higher. Apply 30-60 minutes prior to |
| rays to be aware of, UVA and UVB. Although not | | | | sun exposure, make sure all exposed areas are |
| completely understood at this time the role each | | | | covered, and reapply approximately every 2 |
| play specifically in long term sun damage, it is | | | | hours. Where at all possible, work in the shade or |
| believed that UVA rays penetrate deep into the | | | | during the non-peak hours of exposure from |
| skin and are the major source of early aging and | | | | 10am - 4pm. |
| skin cancer and that UVB rays primarily access | | | | Although even sunscreen products will not |
| the surface of the skin and are the key source | | | | completely block all of the sun's harmful rays, by |
| of sunburns. We are exposed to these rays | | | | using it regularly in combination with sun protective |
| everyday, regardless of whether there is cloud | | | | clothing, outdoor workers should be able to |
| coverage or not. Some rays will even reach us | | | | minimize their risk of sun damage. Many |
| through windows. That is why sunscreen products | | | | employers are now providing an assortment of |
| are recommended for use on a daily basis | | | | sunscreen products in single application packets or |
| year-round and are simply a necessity for those | | | | bulk sunscreen in wall dispensers in order to |
| who work outside. | | | | encourage workers to protect themselves in all |
| It is quite easy for outdoor workers, particularly in | | | | ways possible. Education and awareness of the |
| the construction field, to neglect any type of sun | | | | potential long term danger, beyond just the threat |
| protection, let alone pursuing an aggressive | | | | of uncomfortable sunburn today is also often all |
| sun-safety strategy because their lives literally are | | | | that is needed to encourage these protective |
| at risk on a daily basis from falls, electrical and | | | | measures. |
| other industry specific hazards which require their | | | | |